Iyabo Ojo

Alice Iyabo Ojo (born 21 December 1977) is a prominent Nigerian film actress, director, and producer popularly known for her contributions in the Nollywood film industry. She has featured in over 150 films and has produced more than 14 of her own.

Early life
Iyabo Ojo was born as Alice Iyabo Ogunro on 21 December 1977 in Lagos, Nigeria, although her father was from Abeokuta, Ogun State. She is the youngest of three children, having two older brothers.

Education
She went to school in Lagos at National College, Gbagbada, before proceeding to study Estate Management at Lagos State Polytechnic.

Career
Having been involved in a drama group at secondary school, Iyabo Ojo commenced her acting career in 1998. She registered with the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) with the help of Bimbo Akintola and was also able to network to other people

Ojo has scripted and featured in several Nigerian films. Her first role was in 1998's Satanic, an English-language film. In 2002, she made her Yoruba-language debut with Baba Darijinwon. In January 2015, her film Silence, which features Joseph Benjamin Alex Usifo, Fathia Balogun, and Doris Simeon, premiered at the Silverbird Cinemas, Ikeja, in Lagos.

In 2004, Ojo started producing her own films. Her first production was Bolutife, after which she made Bofeboko, Ololufe, Esan and Okunkun Biribiri. She also divorced her husband before her fame started.

Personal life
Marrying a Lagos-based Clearing Agent in 1999, when she was 21, Iyabo took a break from pursuing her career. She gave birth to a son and then a daughter (born in 1999 and 2001 respectively), namely Felix Ojo and Priscilla Ajoke Ojo, but is now divorced from their father. She has attributed the breakup of her first marriage to marrying too young. She has spoken of her intention to stop using her former husband's surname, Ojo.

Tax Dispute with Lagos State Government
Iyabo Ojo made headlines when the Lagos State Government issued her a notice, demanding payment of N18,640,092.00 as personal income tax within seven days, or face penalty.

According to the government's letter, Iyabo Ojo was accused of owing N7,376,000.00 in taxes for the year 2022, as well as N11,264,092 in back taxes for the 2021 tax year. In response, the actress took to her Instagram page to express her dissatisfaction with the tax assessment process, questioning the basis for the exorbitant amount she was being asked to pay.

In her social media post, Iyabo Ojo addressed the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, and the Lagos State Government, expressing her concerns about the hefty tax bill. She highlighted that she had already paid various taxes related to her businesses and personal assets and questioned the rationale behind the additional charges.

The actress further emphasized that despite complying with the government's request to declare her income and explaining her financial situation through her tax consultant, she did not receive a satisfactory response. She expressed frustration over the perceived lack of assistance or support from the government, while being burdened with an overwhelming tax obligation.

Iyabo Ojo concluded her post by expressing her willingness to face any consequences, including the closure of her business or potential legal actions, as she believed the tax demand was unreasonable. She highlighted the need for transparency and fairness in the tax assessment process and questioned the government's contribution to her personal and professional life.

As a prominent figure in the Nigerian entertainment industry, Iyabo Ojo's public dispute with the Lagos State Government over her tax obligations has sparked discussions on tax assessment practices and the relationship between the government and individuals in the country.

Pinkies Foundation
Iyabo Ojo launched her NGO, Pinkies Foundation, which caters to children with special needs and the less privileged, in May 2011. She celebrated the fifth anniversary of the foundation on 1 May 2016 at the R&A City Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Activism
In April 2021, she strongly condemned fellow actor, Yomi Fabiyi for sympathising with Olanrewaju Omikunle (Baba Ijesha) who was arrested for molesting a minor. On 12 May 2021, she took legal action against Yomi Fabiyi (who had earlier staged a protest requesting the release of Baba Ijesha) for making "defamatory statements" about her. Her actions did not go down well with the Theater Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, (TAMPAN), and they blacklisted her on 28 June 2021. According to Legit.ng, actor Jide Kosoko, speaking for TAMPAN, said that Nollywood filmmakers under the association will stop working with her.

As documented by Nelogram, Ojo publicly accused fellow celebrity, Naira Marley of spiritual and physical dealings with Mohbad, implying potential culpability in his death. Marley vehemently denied these accusations and retaliated with a N1 billion defamation lawsuit against Ojo, claiming her comments damaged his reputation. Ojo countered with her own legal claims, alleging improper service of the lawsuit.